CVE-2022-3071 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability identified in the Tab Strip component of Google Chrome on Chrome OS and Lacros versions prior to 105.0.5195.52. This vulnerability arises from improper memory management where a previously freed object is accessed, leading to potential heap corruption. The flaw can be triggered remotely by an attacker who convinces a user to perform specific user interface interactions, which then exploit the use-after-free condition. The vulnerability does not require any privileges or prior authentication but does require user interaction, making social engineering a likely vector for exploitation. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of the browser process, potentially compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 reflects the critical nature of this vulnerability, with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction needed, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the technical details and severity suggest that this vulnerability poses a significant risk if left unpatched. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-362 (Race Condition), indicating a concurrency or timing issue in memory handling within the Chrome Tab Strip UI component.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-3071 can be substantial given the widespread use of Google Chrome as a primary web browser across enterprises, government agencies, and critical infrastructure sectors. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution, enabling attackers to steal sensitive data, install persistent malware, or disrupt operations by crashing or corrupting browser processes. This is particularly concerning for organizations handling sensitive personal data under GDPR regulations, as a breach could lead to significant legal and financial penalties. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to trigger the exploit, increasing the risk in environments with less stringent user awareness training. Additionally, Chrome OS devices, which are increasingly used in education and enterprise sectors in Europe, are also affected, broadening the attack surface. The vulnerability's ability to compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability simultaneously makes it a critical threat to business continuity and data protection in European contexts.

European organizations should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Chrome and Chrome OS versions to the latest available releases that address CVE-2022-3071. Since no patch links are provided in the source, organizations should monitor official Google Chrome security advisories and deploy updates promptly. In parallel, organizations should enhance user awareness training to recognize and avoid suspicious UI interactions or phishing attempts that could trigger the exploit. Implementing browser security best practices such as disabling unnecessary extensions, enforcing strict content security policies, and using endpoint protection solutions with behavioral detection can help mitigate exploitation risks. Network-level protections, including web filtering and intrusion detection systems, should be tuned to detect and block malicious payloads or suspicious traffic patterns associated with exploitation attempts. For Chrome OS deployments, administrators should enforce automatic updates and restrict installation of untrusted applications to reduce exposure. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning focused on browser components can help identify unpatched systems. Finally, organizations should have incident response plans ready to address potential exploitation scenarios involving browser-based attacks.